Hawthorne police investigate two recent fatal traffic accidents

Hawthorne police traffic detectives are investigating two recent traffic accidents that resulted in the deaths of two residents, police said Wednesday.

In one crash, Dulce Vargas, 28, died at a hospital shortly after she was hit by a car that veered onto the sidewalk as she walked along Crenshaw Boulevard near 131st Street at 6:30 a.m. Saturday. The driver, who was not identified, was heading south when he struck the woman, who was walking south.

In the other crash, a motorcyclist riding east on 135th Street near Yukon Avenue on Oct. 4 was unable to stop in time for a vehicle that turned in front of him. He crashed into the vehicle's passenger door, police said.

Tate Hilton Jr., 43, died at a hospital.

Police said Hilton and the driver each had suspended driver's licenses.

Neither driver's name was released. Neither driver was cited or placed under arrest. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in either crash, police said.